Pocono Preview: Can Jimmie Johnson make it 3 straight?

Thursday

Jun 5, 2014 at 11:27 AMJun 5, 2014 at 11:36 AM

Three things to watch for this week as NASCAR visits the Poconos.

By Ken Willisken.willis@news-jrnl.com

NASCAR makes its unofficial leap into summer this weekend with a visit to relatively pleasant climes in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, home to the triangular Pocono Raceway.Pocono is unique for its three-corner shape, which includes three different degrees of banking (14, 8 and 6 degrees). Overall, it's 2.5 miles long, with a straightaway that puts the stretch in frontstretch — it looks like it runs all the way to Jersey.Pocono is big enough to put a big demand on straight-line horsepower, but quirky enough to bring handling into play.As always, if you miss it, don't worry. There's another Pocono race in seven weeks.Hat trick for Jimmie?Assuming you can recall two weeks ago, you can recall all the talk about Jimmie Johnson's winless streak. Well, two weeks and two wins later, you'd like to suggest the No. 48 team has regained its stride. Except that crew chief Chad Knaus, after Sunday's win, suggested they haven't yet gotten to where they want to be. Asking any other team to do it a third straight week would be asking a lot. But would you bet against Jimmie this weekend? I didn't think so.Champagne, anyone?The most obvious non-winner 12 weeks into the season is sitting up there atop the points heap: Matt Kenseth. But Mild Matt isn't sweating much, because he's piling up points at a very comforting pace. However, there are guys deep in the points, and winless, who shouldn't be there. Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart are the four biggest names among those who aren't just winless, but so deep in the standings that they're currently outside the Chase cutoff.TNT: Out with a bang?NASCAR's latest TV contract begins next year, and it doesn't include TNT, which begins its final six-race summertime package this weekend. One of TNT's color commentators is Kyle Petty and, as you've probably noticed, Kyle occasionally says things that aren't always said by those who wish to remain in NASCAR's good graces. Without much to lose in TNT's last lap before the exit, it'll be interesting to see if Kyle lets his hair down and turns loose with some enjoyable talking points.